Switch control apparatus



Aug 21, 1956 F. PHANEUF 2,759,363

SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1952 INVENTOR. EZ 5.

Aug. 21, 1956 L. F. PHANEUF 2,759,363

SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1a A kzaa SWITCH CONTROL APPARATUS Leo F. Phaneuf, New Bedford, Mass.

Application April 21, 1952, .S1erial'l5l0.v 283,319

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-2) This invention relates to switch control apparatus, and more especially to apparatus adapted to open one. and close another electrical circuit, to give a signal alarm in case of emergency.

One object of my invention is to. provide, switch control apparatus that holds a switch control arm in one position by means of a fusible cap, and which assures movement of said arm to another position automatically when a fusible end of the fusible cap melts. Thus an electrical circuit supplying electricity to an oil burner, for instance, is kept closed. under normal conditions; but in the event of an unintentional fire occurring in the vicinity of said oil burner when said fusible endv melts said switch control arm actuates a switch to the, oil burner to open position while actuating another switch, that operates a signal alarm, to closed position.

Another object is to provide switch control, apparatus. that is simple and certain in operation, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and can be produced on a quantity production basis.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to. the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my switch control apparatus connected to switches. Figure 2 is a side elevational View thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, greatly enlarged, of the switches to which my apparatus can be connected, and wires leading therefrom, the switch control arm being shown in neutral position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, with the addition, in side elevational view, of my switch control apparatus shown connected to a switch.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view of my switch control apparatus in position of use.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, sectional view similar to, but at a 90 degree angle from the position shown in Figure 5, showing my switch control apparatus after the fusible end has melted thus automatically moving the switch control arm from the position shown in dash lines to that shown in solid lines.

Figure 7 is a reduced, sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3, with the addition of the connecting shaft of my apparatus and the coil spring extending between it and the switch mechanism, the switch control arm being shown in neutral position.

As illustrated, my apparatus 12 is connected to a separator plate that is preferably dished and has a central hole therethrough. Said apparatus has a housing in the nited States Patent 0 which is at the opposite side of said separator plate 10 from the main parts of said control member. s

A look nut 18 is shown, that screw-threadedly connects with said outer sleeve housing 14. and bears against said plate 10. Above said nut 18 and connected to. said sleeve 14 is an interiorly screw-threaded, knurled ring 20.

Switch actuating means includes a hollow plunger button 22 which is open at one end and closed at the other, and is slidable in said sleeve 14 and projects outside of it, terminating at its exterior in an enlarged head 24 which is too large to enter the interior of said sleeve 14, hence limits the movement inwardly of said plunger button 22. At the inner end of said button are two extensions 26 opposite each other in each of which a slot 28 is formed that extends into. the main body of said button. Another slot 30, is. formed in said button body at approximately degrees to either of the other two slots 28.

A connecting member in the form of a shaft 32 extends across the interior of said button 22 and through said slots 28 and is fixedly mounted in said sleeve 14.

A switch control arm 34 is rotatably mounted on said shaft 32, having an extension 36. extending beyond one end thereof which movably fits in said slot 30. Above said arm 34 is a plug 38 having a slot 40 in its bottom into which the inner end of said arm 34 slightly extends. Said plug 38 has a shoulder 42 on which bears one end of a coil spring 44 within said plunger button 22,, the other end bearing against the interior at the closed end of said button 22.

An outer cap 46, interiorly screw-threaded, screws onto said sleeve 14, covering the outer portion of said plunger button 22, and also covering part of said sleeve 14. This cap 46, in normal position of use, is screwed onto said sleeve 14 far enough to depress said plunger button 22 and thus compress said coil spring 44. The extent to which it covers said sleeve 14 may be determined by the position of said ring 20.

Said cap 46 has a fusible end 48 made of lead or other material that melts at a relatively low temperature, say 138 degrees F. Said fusible end 48, when in position of use, forcibly bears against said plunger button 212 pushing it farther inwardly into said housing sleeve 14.

Said arm 34 extends diagonally with relation to the longitudinal axis of said plunger button 22 in either position of use, as shown by the solid and dash lines in said Figure 6, and when said fusible end 48 is melted it rotates to another diagonal position from one side of said sleeve interior to the opposite side, and it also extends beyond said sleeve.

When said button is pressed outwardly to position of use the part of it bordering said slot 30 is forced against said arm extension 36 thereby rotating said switch control arm 34 from one diagonal position to another as shown in said Figure 6, which can control two switches, later explained.

A coil spring 52 extends over said control arm 34 and at one end a receiver member 54, having a recessed end 56, also has a reduced end 57 that extends into said spring 52 and said arm 34 enters and bears against an unrecessed end of said receiver member. This spring 52 extends into the interior of a switch box 58, and said receiver member recessed end 56 fits on a knob portion 60 of a switch actuator 62 that is pivotally mounted on said base as later described.

Two insulator members 66 at opposite sides of said box 58 each extend parallel with a long side 58a of said box between two pairs of stationary contact members 68 and 70, each pair fitting into opposite corners of a long side 5841 of said box. 58-. id c nt ct 6 each ha e a pair of extension jaws 68a at the upper end thereof and each said contact 70 has a pair of diagonally extending, contact jaws 70a at its lower end. Between each two pairs of said jaws 68a and 70a an insulator member 66 fits and extends parallel with a long side 58a. Wires W extend from each said contact member 68 and 70, one pair to be electrically connected to the switch of an oil burner or other principal apparatus, while the other pair is to be connected with an electrical signal such as a bell or light.

There is a movable contact for each pair of stationary contacts 68 and 70, each one having a pair of sides 72 terminating in gripping jaws 74 at each end, and having an insulation member 76 at an intermediate point thereof, between said sides 72. Each pair of said movable contact gripping jaws 74 is intended to grip a pair of said contact extension jaws 68a and 70a to establish an electrical circuit. Inasmuch as at one long side 58a of said box, said jaws 68a and 70a are in reverse positions to those on the other said long side, as shown in said Figure 3, it is obvious that a circuit can be established only on one long side of said box 58 through said jaws 68a and 70a, as connected by two said jaws 74 of said movable contact member 7 2.

Said switch actuating member 62 has two arms 78 extending in opposite directions from legs 80, which arms movably fit in slotted bosses 82 provided in each long side 58a of said box 58. Below and parallel with said arms 78 said actuator 62 has fingers 83 that extend outwardly from said legs 80 into holes in said contact insulation 76. Between and at the bottom of said legs 80 is said knob extension 60 which extends into said recessed end 56 of said receiver member 54. An insulation plate 86 lies between each said leg 80 and a movable contact side 72.

Rotation of said control arm 34, by applying pressure to said plunger button 22, as explained, rotates said switch actuating member 62, which in turn rotates said movable contacts so that the gripping jaws 74, of one, make contact with two of said contact jaws 68a and 70a at opposite ends of a long side of said box 58. In actual use said plunger button 22 is placed under compression by said fusible end so that an electrical circuit to an oil burner switch or other apparatus is established. However, when said fusible end 48 melts, as it will in case of a fire adjacent to it, said plunger button 22 is released and this rotates said control arm 34 to the opposite diagonal positon. This, in turn, rotates said switch actuator 62 to the opposite position whereby the other two said gripping jaws 74, which were not making any contact, now contact the other two said contact jaws 68a and 70a which establishes an electrical circuit to a bell or other signal to thereby give an alarm.

WhatI claim is:

1. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap extending over a portion of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector member movably connecting said actuating means to said housing, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button bearing against said fusible outer end in position of use, a switch control arm pivotally mounted on said connector member, operably connected to said button and movable therewith, and a spring between said switch control arm and one end of said plunger button, said fusible outer end being adapted to forcibly bear against said plunger button to thereby compress said spring and to actuate said plunger button to thereby move said control arm to a predetermined position.

2. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap extending over a portion of said housing in fixed position and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts of said device adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector member movably connecting said actuating means to said housing, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button bearing against said fusible outer end in position of use, a switch control arm movably mounted on said connector member and operably connected to said button and movable therewith, pressure means between said switch control arm and plunger button and extending into, and bearing against one end of, said plunger button, said fusible outer end being adapted to forcibly bear against said plunger button to thereby apply pressure to said pressure means and to actuate said plunger button to thereby move said control arm to a predetermined position.

3. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap extending over a portion of said housing in fixed position and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts of said device adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector member movably connecting said actuating means to said housing, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button bearing against said fusible outer end in position of use, a switch control arm movably mounted on said connector member, operably connected to said button and movable therewith, said arm extending diagonally with relation to the longitudinal axis of said plunger button in position of use, and a coil spring between said switch control arm and one end of said plunger button and extending into the latter, said fusible outer end being adapted to forcibly bear against said plunger button to thereby compress said spring and to actuate said plunger button to thereby move said control arm to a predetermined position.

4. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap connected to and extending over one end of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector shaft, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button having a closed end and an open end and movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use and having three openings therein intermediate end extremities thereof, said shaft being mounted in said housing and extending into tWo of said button openings and across said button, said button being movable with respect to said shaft, a switch control arm movably mounted on said shaft and embodying an extension movably extending into the third said button opening, a plug within said button in contact with said switch control arm and embodying a shoulder, and a coil spring bearing on said shoulder at one end and against said closed end of said button at its other end, said button being adapted when pressure is applied to it to actuate said switch control arm and move it from one position to another position.

5. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap connected to and extending over one end of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector shaft, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button having a closed end and an open end and movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use and having a pair of slots opposite each other and another slot, said slots being intermediate end extremities thereof, said shaft being mounted in said housing and extending into said pair of button slots and across said but- .ton, said button being movable with respect to said shaft,

a switch control arm movably mounted on said shaft and embodying an extension movably extending into the other said button slot, a plug within said button in contact with said switch control arm, and a spring bearing on said plug at one end and against said closed end of said button at its other end, said button being adapted when pressure is applied to it to actuate said switch control arm and move it from one position to another.

6. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap connected to and extending over one end of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector shaft, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button having a closed end and an open end and movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use and having an opening therein and having two extension portions adjacent said open end having two openings therein intermediate end extremities thereof, said shaft being mounted in said housing and extending into the latter two said button openings and across said button, said button being movable with respect to said shaft, a switch control arm movably mounted on said shaft and embodying an extension movably extending into the firstmentioned button opening, a plug within said button in contact with said switch control arm, and a coil spring bearing on said plug at one end and against said closed end of said button at its other end, said button being adapted when pressure is applied to it to actuate said switch control arm and move it from one position to another.

7. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap extending over one end of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector member, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use, said connector member movably connecting said button to said housing, a switch control arm movably mounted on said connector member, operably connected to said button and movable upon actuation thereof, and a spring between said arm and a portion of said plunger button, said button being adapted when pressure is applied to it to actuate said switch control arm to a predetermined position and compress said spring.

8. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow cap extending over one end of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector member, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use, said connector member movably connecting said button to said housing, a switch control arm movably mounted on said connector member, operably connected to said button and movable upon actuation thereof, and extending diagonally to the longitudinal axis of said button to a point beyond said housing, and a spring between said arm and a portion of said plunger button, the latter being adapted when pressure is applied to it to actuate said switch control arm to a predetermined position and compress said spring.

9. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing, a cap extending over one end of said housing in fixed position and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, a cover plate attached to said housing at one end extremity thereof, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector member, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use, said connector member movably connecting said button to said housing, a switch control arm movably mounted on said connector member, operably connected to said button and movable upon actuation thereof and extending beyond said housing and cover plate, and a spring between said arm and a portion of said plunger button, the latter being adapted when pressure is applied to it to actuate said switch control arm to a predetermined position and compress said spring.

10. A switch actuating device for switch control apparatus, said actuating device comprising a housing, switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, a connector member movably connecting said housing to said plunger button and a switch control arm pivotally mounted on said connector member and operably connected to said button and movable therein.

11. A switch actuating device for a switch control apparatus, said actuating device comprising a housing, switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it and having an opening in a side thereof, a connector member movably connecting said housing to said plunger button, and a switch control arm embodying an extension movably extending into said opening, said arm being mounted on said connector member and operably connected at said extension .to said button and movable therein.

12. Switch control apparatus comprising a housing having exterior screw-threads, a cap having interior screw-threads connected to and extending over one end of said housing and having an outer end of fusible material adapted to melt at a lower temperature than other parts adjacent thereto, and switch actuating means movably connected to said housing, a connector shaft, said actuating means embodying a hollow plunger button having a closed end and an open end and movably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly beyond it, said button being adapted to bear against said fusible outer end in position of use and having three openings therein intermediate end extremities thereof, said shaft being mounted in said housing and extending into two of said button openings and across said button, said button being movable with respect to said shaft, a switch control arm movably mounted on said shaft and embodying an extension movably extending into the third said button opening, a plug within said button in contact with said switch control arm, and a coil spring bearing on said plug at one end and against said closed end of said button at its other end, said button being adapted, when pressure is applied to it upon the melting of said outer end of fusible material, to actuate said switch control arm and move it from one position to another position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,838 Denio Feb. 12, 1889 698,383 Wilke Apr. 22, 1902 1,159,602 Scheuer Nov. 9, 1915 1,494,335 Boston May 20, 1924 1,981,484- Werring Nov. 20, '1934 2,180,501 Blood Nov. 21, 1939 2,236,958 Mathisen .et a1. Apr. '1, 1941 

